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The value of electroencephalogram in head injuries

The 551 electroencephalograms of 387 patients with head injury are analysed. The electroencephalographic findings are correlated to the following clinical data: age, time after the trauma, duration of unconsciousness, presence of localizing neurological signs, existence of open wounds or hematoma, bloody cerebrospinal fluid and post-traumatic epilepsy. The autor came to the following conclusions: 1 — There is a clear correlation between the electroencephalographic abnormalities and the degree of cerebral injury characterized by the duration of unconsciousness, presence of localizing neurological signs, presence of bloody cerebrospinal fluid and post-traumatic epilepsy; 2 — slow wave activity over the parieto-occipital area is more frequent in the age group up to 10 years; 3 — the proportion of abnormal electroencephalograms decreases particularly after the 1st month post-trauma; 4 — diffuse or focal slow activity decreased principally after the 1st month post-trauma; 5 — paroxysmal abnormalities increase pro¬ portionaly after the 6th month post-trauma; 6 — patients with intracranial hematoma present great proportion of abnormalities, particularly depressions. This study demonstrates the importance of electroencephalographic tracings as a complementation to the clinical evaluation of head injury cases, chiefly early, and late follow-up tracings.


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